Monde Zondeki will be remembered as the bowler who picked up a wicket with his first ball in International cricket. In an ODI match at Bloemfontein against Sri Lanka in the 2002 series, he snapped up Marvan Atapattu. However, after that high, inconsistency has plagued him and he has gradually faded away from the scene.

A student of Dale College in Eastern Cape province, he started his career as a spinner but switched to fast bowling when people noticed that he bowled with considerable pace. With the selectors looking for youth, Zondeki was picked as the natural successor for Allan Donald. He was selected in the squad for the 2003 World Cup but struggled with the ball considerably.

However, it was with the bat that he made a spectacular impression on his Test debut against England at Headingley. With South Africa in trouble at 142/7, he shared a 150 run stand for the eighth wicket with Gary Kirsten to rescue South Africa. This partnership helped South Africa turn the tide against England and they won the Test. However, he suffered from injury and has spent sufficient time on the sidelines.

Zondeki made a comeback in the series against Zimbabwe and picked up his best haul of 6/39. In the series against the West Indies, he once again struggled for penetration and played his last series against Bangladesh in 2008. He played for Warwickshire in the 2008 season under the coaching of Allan Donald. He had some impressive spells with the ball but his inconsistency continues to plague him.

Interesting fact: Zondeki spent a year of his early childhood in Zambia living with his exiled uncle, the late ANC cabinet minister Steve Tshwete.

By Siddharth Vishwanathan